BrianM

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Of course I've yet to see a new canopy come with the lines daisy chained.

I don't recall seeing a new canopy that didn't have the lines daisy chained.

Edit: oh wait... did I just totally miss a sarcastic comment?

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And I can believe someone in the business of selling used gear wouldn't advocate using line cards. They're not useless for new canopies or other canopies not on links. They give a starting point and eliminate the need to sort out all of the lines not on links.

Agreed. I also prefer them even with links. Daisy chaining doesn't keep the links from flipping through the lines, and connecting the links together doesn't tell me which one is which. I still do a full continuity check after hooking up the canopy - but the actual hook up is much faster, and I never find errors that need fixing.

The graph on the last page needs to be fixed. The date is on the Y axis (would make more sense on the X axis), and the X axis is unlabelled.

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they were drouge side down. Drouge side up its easy, just throw the drouge.

Looks like drogue side up to me.

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ps it's actually impossible to fly in and out of China on commercial airlines?

My bad.

I meant to say:

Take this to the bank. There is NO general aviation in China. Period.

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Ah, well that's a different statement!

A quick google search for "general aviation china" suggests there is, in fact, some GA in China - but not very much.

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Take this to the bank: There is NO civil aviation in China. Period.

Nonsense.

... or perhaps it's actually impossible to fly in and out of China on commercial airlines?

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The double leg wrap works great and we have used it for tri-by-sides even. I will see if my teammates can get some dirt dive photos this weekend, and I can figure out how to post them....

I posted some photos of tri-by-sides with the parabatics grip a few years ago here:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2498160#2498160

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Don't collapse your slider after you open. That flappy-flappy sound helps those around you know "there's another canopy nearby."

How do I hear the other person's flappy-flappy slider over the sound of MY flappy-flappy slider, which is a mere couple feet or so from my ears?

It might make it harder to hear things other than another slider, too - like a yell.

I prefer to collapse mine.

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It would be damned difficult to lock feet together and hold a downplane.

It isn't too difficult. I've done it many times, using the parabatics grip.

You can do lots of other neat stuff with the parabatics grip. Check out this short video of the Plaid Jackets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1VMUZw8W0A

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How does this differ from just changing the altitude reference, which will achieve the exact same outcome?

Changing the reference altitude will affect arming altitude, no fly zones (see page 32 of the CYPRES 2 manual), and detection of having landed (though according to the manual, that last one will only happen if landing higher than the set DZ elevation). It may also affect other algorithms that none of us know about. Changing the activation altitude seems like a much better method than changing the reference altitude.

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Fixed. Just right click the shortcut link and hit "Copy Link Location"

Yay!!!

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@BIGUN Kinda like a skyhook, like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqtC5w4vrZg

@airtwardo I should have explained, the 3 rings are for cutting away in high winds, the rig itself is just for ground launching or towing

Maybe I'm just confused, but those two statements seem contradictory. If the cutaway is just for high winds, how do you expect to deploy the second canopy like a skyhook?

I have seen a CYPRES with a fired cutter pass the self test. According to Airtec this can sometimes happen for a short time after the cutter is fired. Sure enough, after letting it sit for a bit, it no longer passed the self test. So, in the scenario of a fired cutter with an uncut loop or locked container, it would be possible to see the blank display, think you'd forgotten to turn it on or that it had powered off after 14 hours, turn it on, and be unaware that anything had happened, if it was soon enough after the firing.

Here's the response from Airtec about why this can happen - I figured it was better than trying to paraphrase and getting something wrong:

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Thanks for your e-mail concerning the Cypres 1 showing none error code.

Basically the cutter connection and operative status is checked by metering the internal conductivity resistance (Ohm). This means we electrically check the Firing pellet .
Upon ignition from an electric pulse, the firing pellet initiates the combustion of the propellant. This is a chemical process, but not entirely complete directly after activation. The debris (burn-off) is still conductive for a short period of time. This time can vary due to ambient temperature and age of the charge/ cutter.

What you have experienced is the result of the resistance check during the chemical decay. This rarely causes CYPRES temporarily to sense a measurable resistance and prompting no error code. After the chemical decomposition of the burn-off is completed the electrical conductivity is lost, now the resistance check detects the faulty cutter during the self test and prompts the error code correctly.

We know about the rare appearance of this temporary phenomenon, there is nothing wrong with the computing circuit. The Cypres can be taken to service without any sepsis, the functionality of the CYPRES is not affected.
We know this is a little less than perfect, but not to avoid.

I hope this clearly explained your case, if you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

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Is it just me, or is "Undertaker" a really bad name for a swooping canopy?

Cause swoopers on that canopy cut you up in the pattern and it sounds slightly better than "overtaker"

That'll only make sense to people in the UK ("undertake" and "cut up" aren't used that way elsewhere).

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Where's that animated "popcorn" emoticon, like what other bbs seem to have available to them, when you need it?

[inline popcorn.gif]

Edit: Odd - the inline image works when I preview the message, but not when I post it. Oh well - you'll just have to click on the attachment!

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Call me old school but this chick has really no respect to herself....people do really crazy stuff to get 5 minutes of fame...

I don't know about old school, but it sounds like you have a double standard, since you commented on the woman's lack of self respect but said nothing about the man!

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Less experienced jumpers may not, because that's $60+ towards jumps, "the seller said it was good to jump", they don't think a rig could be damaged in transit/intentionally/by mistake etc...

I've found the opposite is often true - newer jumpers often have more gear fear, and will really, really want to have the gear looked at by someone they know and trust.

I voted to repack it - but I'm a rigger, so it doesn't cost me anything. If I wasn't a rigger? I'd probably get it repacked both to make sure it's airworthy, and to make sure that the equipment is as described - it's hard to complain to the seller about that six months after the transaction.

I've done free I&R's for new jumpers buying their first rig when I knew they didn't have much money.

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try cocking the pilot chute before you put the canopy in the bad.

I was going to say the same thing. An additional benefit is you get an extra chance at catching an uncocked PC. If I forget to cock it, I notice as soon as I start bagging the canopy because the bridle/kill line looks different than normal. I don't even need to remember to check, it's very obvious.

You could try something like this:

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=11

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You can code in assembly though, then use an assembler to convert it into machine code.

Point taken as to preferred usage. But even the printed notes from my prof Dr. Vranesic calls it both assembler language and assembly language... back when learning to program the Motorola 6809!

Lots of people call it assembler - it's just always been a bit of a pet peeve of mine for some reason. Pay me no heed!

I haven't done much with the 6809 family, but have done a lot of assembly on the 68000 (plus a handful of non-Motorola microprocessors, mostly the 8052 family).

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I believe the Astra was quite dumb - not capable of being smart about the conditions under which it operates. It could not realize what data was due to transient effects vs what a jumper could physically do.

Yes I believe that was a factor at the time. There was talk (on rec.skydiving) about how simple the processing seemed to be, from the little that had been heard about the internal logic. It just didn't sound like there had been much attempt even to design smart logic.

Sounds a lot like the Vigil, to be honest. Those seem to be selling well. I'm not convinced that is the reason (or at least not the only reason) that the Astra didn't do well.

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I'm no microcontroller programmer

I am. I wouldn't use a BASIC stamp in any production environment, even for non safety critical applications. It's like the Sears microscope I had as a kid: an suitable toy for the hobbyist who wants to learn a bit, but it's not a real tool. No scientist has a Sears microscope in their lab.

Using a BASIC Stamp for an AAD blows my mind.

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Code in assembler or compile some language.

It's impossible to code in assembler because there is no such language. You can code in assembly though, then use an assembler to convert it into machine code.

Two and a half years ago, a few dropzone.com posters reported this problem. Apparently AAD was aware of the problem then.

Two years ago I removed a Vigil from a customer's rig with the same problem. AAD told her it was a known issue.

Now we are being told that this is an isolated problem that they are just finding out about now?

Had a dream years ago where I went in when nothing out, not even the PC. I got up and dusted myself off and, embarrassed, looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed. Nobody had. Then, since I was packed and geared up, I got back on the plane for another jump.

My glasses are not very big, and they definitely don't fit under any of the regular goggles I've tried.

I prefer the Flexvision goggles (http://www.paragear.com/templates/base_template.asp?group=257#G1134). They fit my face well, so they don't catch wind and blow off. The elastic is strong and stretchy, and can be easily adjusted while I'm wearing them - even in freefall. No trim to

I used to use the Kroops (http://www.paragear.com/templates/base_template.asp?group=257#G1128), and didn't like them at all. They don't fit my face well as well, and have a more square profile (viewed from the side), so they catch the wind more. Elastic was a pain to adjust, didn't always stay where adjusted, and couldn't be adjusted while I was wearing them. Elastic would lose it's stretchiness after a while, and the plastic lens didn't last as long as the Flexvision.

I've also used Flex-Z (http://www.square1.com/manufacturers/square1/p210.asp#Flex-ZGoggles). I like them better than the Kroops, but not as much as the Flexvision. Similar adjustment system as the Flexvision, but it doesn't stay - I have to tie a knot after pulling on the ends (with the Flexvision I just give the ends a tug and I'm done). Also the trim starts to come off after a while; I can just peel it right off, but then the edge is a bit sharp and covered in glue residue.

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What are the extra handles?

Depends on the make/model/setup. I'm only familiar with the rigs I'm rated on, but in theory, the bare minimum would be one extra handle - a drogue release. I jump tandem rigs with a total of 6 handles:

- drogue
- drogue release
- second drogue release
- cutaway
- reserve
- second reserve handle on RSL